Yesterday I needed a break from watching the Winter Olympics. So just for an hour or so going out in gusty arctic blasted cold, I went to my patch of woods, Prospect park.
Not wanting to spend too much time in challenging conditions, I set my target the pair of drake Common Mergansers seen next to 3 Sisters Islands. Trudging along on packed down bumpy snow,careful not to fall, I made my way to the viewing area on south shore. At first I didn't see the mergansers among the horde of Canada geese,despite their bright white plumages. But before long,I spotted one merganser; shortly afterwards, the second drake appeared .Furthermore, I was also delighted to see the drake Ring necked Duck very close to me,diving along the open water edge.In fact, given both species' wild disposition, both species were close ,a wonderful view I had. I thought I was satisfied, having accomplished my trip outdoors .
But then, I sort of got greedy.I thought about the American Tree Sparrow I haven't seen yet..So off I went since it was in a homeward direction for me, I headed for the Hammerhead .
While on the Hammerhead, I scoured carefully all the phragmites and recorded zilch. I even waited along the section by the pedestrian path when I saw a few cardinals and white white throated sparrows,hoping maybe the tree sparrow would accompany them,while I was getting buffeted by the strong winds. Then I had a hunch ,and that helped extended my search by heading for the sweetgum grove near the West Island rustic shelter.
From my search of the lake under the shelter, looking at the gulls was fruitless as the gulls were far off, I changed course and searched the phragmites there.
Patience is a virtue and during my wait I spotted a few white throated sparrows feeding upon the sweetgum seeds on the ice within the phragmites. Even a single dark eyed junco showed up and I thought I was glad to see something . But before I decided to take off, I see a bird to my left- on the ice -come out of the phragmites and I got my mini nemesis bird : the American Tree Sparrow. It sure is a beaut, with the nice buffish flanks , and subtle rustic colors on its uppers, a welcome sight in this winter landscape
I watched the Tree sparrow as long as I could ,mindful of my cold fingers in my cheep gloves. I was blessed getting at least 5 minutes looking at this handsome sparrow chasing seeds before it scampered back into the phragmites again. So from the Hammerhead to the shelter area, I realized now that birds fly 😂
Now I got to figure out how and when I can get that local Red- shouldered hawk..
-kb
"It is the life of the crystal, the architect of the flake, the fire of the frost, the soul of the sunbeam. This crisp winter air is full of it."
--John Burroughs, conservationist and author
